Noise in front wheels when cold
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Noise in front wheels when cold
I have a 99 AWD 5.0 Explorer, and since it's been getting cold, I'm getting a loud whistle/squeal from the front right wheel in the mornings. It only happens when it's below freezing, and after about a mile it goes away. I've done a few searches on here and it sounds like the wheel bearing seals. Has anyone else had this problem? How difficult is it to change these seals on an AWD rig? Any help and info would be greatly appreciated.
Fleet Mechanic
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From: Raleigh USA
Noise in front wheels when cold
Ford calles them excluder seals. They are on the outer CV joint and keep dirt out of the backside of the bearing. They aren't that hard to replace. Do both at the same time (trust me you want to do them both). Take off the caliper, take loose the upper ball joint, remove the nut holding the axle in the hub, on the right side turn the knuckle to the left (vice versa for the left side), push the axle out of the hub, replace the seal and pack it with grease. Don't loosen the shock! It's that simple.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Raleigh USA
Noise in front wheels when cold
This only applies to 4wd explorers or mountianeers(sp?) and you can figure prob 3 hrs labor for both sides and $20 for both seals. At the dealer I work at that is about $250
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Noise in front wheels when cold
Concerning the excluder seal.....I have a factory manual (on CD). It shows the excluder seal on the end of the front drive half shaft (outboard). Is this seal the same as the one they show on the wheel hub?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: USA
Noise in front wheels when cold
yes the half shaft goes into the front hub through the steering knuckle. Sometimes what happens also is, a metal cup that the seal rides against gets pitted by all the salt and dirt in bad climates and will tear up a brand new seal in a few weeks so I would replace that also ,They at one time were a seperate item .not sure now though.
Rich
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: USA
Noise in front wheels when cold
Yes ,it does any explorer with cv -joints in the front axle
Rich
Rich
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Noise in front wheels when cold
One of the earlier posts talks about loosening the ball joints as part of the excluder seal replacement procedure. If I am reading and understanding the service manual correctly, it appears the hub bearing assembly is held on by the axle nut and three bolts on the back side, the steering knuckle (ball joint) stays in place. The seal can be removed and replaced on the hub assembly off the car. Opinions?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Raleigh USA
Noise in front wheels when cold
The outer joint makes it difficult to take the hub bolts out if you don't have swivel sockets. I can do it faster by taking the upper ball joint loose and pulling the joint out of the hub. Just take the pinch bolt out and pry up on the upper arm with a long bar. You may have to tap the knuckle with a hammer to free it. Also make sure you take the ABS sensor wire out of the clips on the frame to avoid pulling it.
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